“You
don’t celebrate Christmas?! And you call yourself a Christian?” I felt amused
at the bewilderment of my friend… By the way, she is not the first one who is
taken aback from my ‘emotionlessness’ towards 25 December
Something
in this cold (for me!), night of Doha suggests me that I should explain this
“unfair” emotionlessness of mine!
Do I
have to celebrate the day of the human birth of my Lord and Savior? Should I
really give a beginning date to the One “Who was and is and is to come” because
He chose to confine Himself in a human body for me? When I don’t see even once
in His words or the whole of New Testament or the age of the Apostles, an
invitation to celebrate His birth as a festival, should I be motivated to do
so? Should I celebrate His birthday when He Himself is not interested in it?
Should I celebrate His birthday to conform to the vast majority around me or to
be a part of a lot of cool traditions & fun going around??
Regarding
the life of my Savior, ranked as the Son of God in that He is the exact replica
of the Deity, as the fullness of God in man, is it His birth the foremost and
the most important thing I should celebrate?
With all
my heart I know, it’s not! He said the celebration/remembrance about Him is to
be about His death… His cross… His crucifixion… His one and only one, and once
for all atonement sacrifice for me and the whole of mankind…And that too, not
on one special day- all the days of my life…
For
that‘s the only thing which matters in my and your life eventually, that’s the
sole basis of my (anyone’s) acceptance before God. My sin could never go
unpunished before the Most Holy God, for if He is just, if He is Holy, He has
to punish sin. But God in His mercy, made Him who knew no sin to be sin for me,
that I might become the righteousness of God in Him; He suffered all that sin
has to suffer on that cross, and made me- the real sinner, acceptable to God.
Without this happening, without me trusting and believing in this, nothing
could get me access to the Most Holy One.
Oh the
world around me! If I have ever made you think that Christianity is all about
beautiful Christmas trees & Easter eggs or pl(r)um cakes or wonderful gifts
from Santa Claus or Carol songs or about getting to wear a beautiful gown for
my wedding, I apologize! I tell you, the real Christianity is all about getting
to believe the true story of the cross- The one on which my Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ shed even the last drop of His blood, for you, and me in our
stead. It’s all about believing in the atonement sacrifice done by Him who knew
no sin, but was made to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness
of God in Him.
Nevertheless,
thanks to all who decided to mix up the practices of their past religions and
make “Christianity” appear more colorful (and commercialized!) … You gave me
one more chance to share the only profitable message for you and me in this
world… The only message that is sufficient to transcend all times and cultures…
The message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ…The message of the cross, which is
foolishness to those who are perishing, but the power of God to those who are
being saved...
